21st March, 2015 The Magic Impact in Canada Canada has a group that topped musical charts with a reggae tune. That band is Magic and the song is called “Rude”. First and foremost I’d like to personally congratulate the members of the band for all of their success and hope that their music and efforts may open up even more doors for reggae music Canada. What’s really interesting though, is that this obviously reggae rendition isn’t treated as such in Canada and nominated as a pop tune. One wonders why that is? Another issue for reggae participants is that the song “Rude” wasn’t nominated within the reggae category of the Junos yet the band just made a big splash performing their music on stages in Jamaica and claiming their offering as “reggae”. Why all of this confusion? What is the necessity for this illusion? “They” truly believe that we do not see “them”. Yes we get the wonderfully styled, overt (they believe to be subliminal) slap in the face of all of the reggae music that happens in this country, ongoing now for over five decades. Sounds like sour grapes and that we are always crying about some other levels of injustice against the black race or their music and to at least be grateful that a reggae track has done so well. My issue is that there are comparable bands and musicians playing reggae music in Canada, doing it for those five or so decades which actually paved the way for a Canadian band to put a reggae tune at the top of the worldwide charts yet continue to go underappreciated, deliberately ignored by an overtly racist Canadian music establishment. All will deny it or even get offended yet based on the relatively obvious, recent history, it is next to impossible to deny. Laying guilt? Not interested in that anymore. That is just a distraction. I’m here to bring the quality of reggae music that inspired Magic, that inspires us all and we have really talented people right here in Canada, that are the root of that inspiration and it is time that we recognize what we have and capitalize on it. Players of instruments for roots reggae music! The authentic kind! Hope that I have the wisdom to impart that to those who try to ignore our existence. A part of that growth has led me to the City Office for music, speaking with Mike Tanner who is well aware of my take on the showcasing of talented Canadian reggae artists. For that we start a gig at Tranzac on Tuesday, 7th April @ Tranzac, 292 Brunswick which Mike was instrumental in making the introduction between the venue and CRW. Magic is basking in the glory of “reggae fame” yet not really saying it but saying it. That is a cool marketing ploy. Meet me at Tranzac on a Tuesday night, 7th April, between 7:30pm – 9:30pm if you wish to see Toronto & Canada’s finest reggae performers.